SBA Los Angeles District Office

Looking for Small Businesses and Business Champions for Small Business Week Awards - Due Jan. 3, 2013

The U.S. Small Business Administration - Los Angeles District Office is currently accepting nominations for business awards for local small business owners and business champions including the 2013 Small Business Person of the Year Award in connection with National Small Business Week.

In addition, a new online portal has been launched by the SBA to accept nominations for its 2013 National Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year and 8(a) Graduate of the Year awards.

The Los Angeles SBA District Office serves Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Trade associations, chambers of commerce and business organizations in this tri-county area are encouraged to submit nominations. A business owner and/or business champion may also nominate themselves or other candidates.

“The Los Angeles SBA District Office looks forward to honoring local entrepreneurs and business champions in various categories who are contributing to our community and economy,” said Victor Parker, the Los Angeles SBA District Director.

The dedicated web portal, accessible athttp://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/, will make it easier to submit and track submissions of nominees for Small Business Week 2013, and is now actively accepting nominations of noteworthy small businesses.

Only the Small Business Person of the Year and (8) Graduate of the Year are available for submission online – all other small business and small business champion awards must be submitted via hardcopy.

Local SBA Awards given in celebration of National Small Business Week include the following awards:

Small Business Person of the Year (online or hardcopy application accepted)

8(a) Graduate of the Year (online or hardcopy application accepted)

Small Business Exporter of the Year (hardcopy application accepted)

Environmental “Green” Conservator of the Year (hardcopy application accepted)

Innovation Through Technology Business of the Year (hardcopy application accepted)

Family-Owned Business of the Year (hardcopy application accepted)

Financial Services Champion of the Year (hardcopy application accepted)

Minority Small Business Champion of the Year(hardcopy application accepted)

Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year (hardcopy application accepted)

Women in Business Champion of the Year (hardcopy application accepted)

For more information on nominating/submitting nominations, please call or email Patrick Rodriguez, Public Information Officer, in the Los Angeles SBA District Office at (818) 552-3222 or at Patrick.Rodriguez@sba.gov.

Since 1963, National Small Business Week has recognized the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for their contributions to their local communities, and to our nation’s economy. In 2013, the 50th year celebration will honor the nation’s 27 million small businesses.

Business entrepreneurs throughout the Southern California area will be honored during Small Business Week with local events. Winners of the local Small Business Person of the Year awards and winners in the other award categories will be invited to Washington, D.C., to compete for national titles and to attend National Small Business Week events in 2013.

Please join the SBA in the National Small Business Week celebration. This is an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community.